The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. NY: HarperCollins.

Nobody Owens family was murdered when he was just a baby leaving him to be raised by some ghosts named the Owens and a caretaker named Silas. Growing up in a graveyard, Bod wondered about life beyond the gates. Bod's life was still in danger but he manages to escape the murderer Jack and eventually leaves the graveyard to explore the world. Gaiman's use of Nobody and all the ghosts in the graveyard as characters adds a special twist to the story. A young living boy having the ability to interact with the dead is intriguing to older aged readers. Gaiman ability to give Bod ghostly abilities while remaining human will capture to readers imaginations. Gaimans' use of various ghost and ghouls adds suspense to the plot of the story and keeps the reader at the edge of their seat.

Textbook assignment 5:

The Graveyard Book offers the theme of death. In The Graveyard Book, there is a dead people everywhere. People exist as ghosts in the place where they were buried. They aren't haunting the graveyard, though. They're just hanging out and going about their business. Neil Gaiman makes death seem nice, you get to be reunited with all of your dead friends and family members. Also, everyone at the graveyard believes that life is special. They all want for Bod to get an opportunity to experience life among the living before it’s too late.

 

Neil Gaiman does a terrific job in describing the settings in The Graveyard Book, from the details included in the house where the murders take place to the graveyard where Bod spends his entire childhood. It was very easy to visualize the setting as I was reading the book. I could literally hear, see and feel the setting as I was reading.

This book receive the Newbery Medal and here is a link to the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_08iP4x-94

Book Website for The Graveyard Book:
http://www.thegraveyardbook.co.uk/